Beacon-light.



F. G. ATTWOOD. BEACON LIGHT.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

7 {HM JAM/ COLUMBIA PLANMRAPH 60., wAsl-llNnToN n c F. G. ATTWOOD.

BEACON LIGHT.-

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

1,015,532. Patented Jan. 23,1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W i ZZZ% coLumuug PLANOGRAI'II cu., WASHINGTON, u. c

F. G. ATTWOOD.

BEACON LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

1,015,532, I I Patented Jan.23,1912.

SSHEETS-SHBET s.

COLUMBIA PLANouRMm c0" wAsnlNu'roN. u. c

P. G. ATTWOOD.

BEACON LIGHT. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

6 sums-43mm 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON. D. c.

P. G. ATTWOOD.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

COLUMBIA PuNoaRAPH c0..wASu 1NOToN, 1; cv

F. GQATTWOOD.

BEACON LIGHT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1910.

Patented Jan. 23,1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

COLUMBIA PMNOGHAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

O as it passes from the reservoir to the burner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK GEORGE ATTWOOD, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BEACON-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23,1912.

Application filed September 29, 1910. Serial No. 584,516.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, FREDERICK GEORGE ATTWOOD, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 56 St. Stephens road,

moved first in one direction and then in y the reverse direction. The movements of the diaphragm are transmitted as impulses to the lantern mechanism and to the clock and are also utilized to control the admission and escape of gas to and from the chamber which I will hereinafter call an impulse chamber. I may use a pair of such impulse chambers to rotate the lantern and I may also interpose between the chamber or chambers and the lantern a clock train which is wound up by the chamber or chambers and itself drives the lantern. The clock first mentioned is used for turning on the full supply of gas to the burner'at sun-- set and cutting it off at sunrise.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a vertical section of the lower part of an apparatus constructed accordlng to this invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections on the lines 22 and 33, Fig. 4, at right angles to each other of the upper part.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the upper part with the top of the casing removed. Fig. 5 is a local section on the line 55, Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are local sections on the lines 66 and 77, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a local side elevation and Fig. 9 a vertical section of a modification. Fig. 10 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the inlet and outlet valve mechanism. Fig. 11 is a plan of another modification.

The lower part Fig. 1 consists of an apparatus such as is usually employed in gasbuoys for reducing the pressure of the gas 1 is a chamber connected to the reservoir (not shown) by the pipe 2 leading to the casing of the valve 3 past which the gas flows into the chamber by a. pipe .4. The Valve 3 is adjustablyconnected to the lever 5 the end of which is connected by the link i6 to the diaphragm 7 which forms the top ,of the chamber 1. v A

I 8 is an adjustable spring acting on the *top of the diaphragm 7 and 9 is theoutlet "by which the gas passes from the chamber 7 1 on'its way to the impulse chamber. The 1 various parts are-so adjusted that when the pressure in the chamber 1 exceeds thedesired amount the diaphragm 7 rises closing the valve 3 and cutting 0E the supply of 5 gas. As this part of the apparatus is of well known construction no further descrip-' tion of it is necessary. The outlet 9 is connected by a pipe 10 to the impulse chamber pipe leading to the constantly burningpilot ,light while 13 is a pipe by which the gas 1 leaves the impulse chamber 11.

14 and 15 are valves (see particularly .Figs. 2, 5 and 10-).=-carried by arms fixed Ito the shaft 16 which is rocked in the man- .ner hereinafter described. These valves work against valve seats at the ends of the pipes 10 and 13 and move together in such 11 (Figs 2, 3 and 4) and 12 is a branch 1.

5a manner that when the valve 14 is on its jg seat and thus preventing the entrance of gasinto the chamber 11, the valve 15 is liraised allowing the gas to pass from the chamber to the burner and when the valve 514 is raised to admit gas the valvel5 is upon its seat and stops the flow of gas to ithe burner. In this way a pulsating or fflash light is obtained.

The drawings show the valves midway of their travel but as will now be explained they cannot remain in this position. The mechanism for operating the valves 14 and 15 is as follows :The top of the impulse chamber 11 consists of a flexible diaphragm 1 l7 pressed downward by a spring 18. 19 is a r'od fixed tothe diaphragm 17 and. carrying two arms 20, 20 which embrace a lever 21 pivoted at 210. The tail end of thelever 21 is forked and embraces an arm 22 fixed to a rocking shaft 23 to which is fixed a fork.

230 carrying adjustable pins 24 adapted to strike against a lug 160 fixed to the rocking shaft 16. 25 are springs in compression bearing against lugs on the shaft 23. It will be seen from this construction that when the movement of the diaphragm 17 and lever 21 have turned the rocking shaft 23 just past its mid-position the expansion of the springs 25 causes it suddenly to. complete its movement independently of the lever thus causing "one or other of the pins 4 5 valves in closing pass between these jaws which. hold them in their closed positions.

The gas passing out of the impulse chamber 11 through the outlet valve 15 is led by the pipe 13 to a valve 29 (see Figs. 4 and 6) and from thence bya pipe 30 and hollow fixed pillar 31 to the burner 32. If a steady light is desired in place of. a pulsating or flash light it is only necessary to omit the lower part of the pipe 13so as to allow the gas escaping from the valve 15 to enter and expand in the chamber ?33 surrounding the chamber 11, the pipe 13 then becoming the outlet from that chamber 33.

34 and 35 are links pivoted to the top of the diaphragm 17 and to arms 36 and 37 fixed to rocking shafts 38 and 39. 40 and 41 are other arms fast on these shafts and connected by links 42 and 43 to the upper ends of levers 44 and 45 free to turn on a shaft 46 and having pivoted to them pawls 47 and 48 engaging with ratchet wheels 49 and 50 fast on a shaft 46. When the diaphragm 17 is rising the levers 44 and 45 move toward each other and the pawl 47 drives the ratchet wheel'49 while the pawl 48 rides over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 50 but when the diaphragm 17 is descending the pawl 48 drives the wheel 50 and the pawl 47 rides over the teeth of the wheel 49. In

this manner the shaft 46 is driven more or less continuously so long as gas is passing to the burner.

When using a steady light and not a flash light I prefer to employ two impulse chambers' 11 placed side by side as shown in Fig.

11 and I then prolong the'shaft 23 into the secondchamber 11 where it carries another pair of pins 24 which actuate another pair of valves 14 and 15 precisely similar to but placed oppositely to those in the first chamber sothat when the valve 14 in the first chamber is open and the valve 15 closed,

valve 14 in the second chamber is closed and valve 15 open andvice versa so that there is a steady fiow of gas to the burner. The two diaphragms may be connected to a rocking beam similar to that of a beam engine such beam being caused to rotate the lantern.

The shaft 46 has fixed to it a bevel wheel 51 gearing with a bevel wheel 52 fast with a table 53 which is free to turn on the pillar 31 and on which the lantern (not shown) is carried.

54 is an arm fast on the rocking shaft 38 and connected by a link 55 to a lever 56 (see Fig. 6) the pivot of the link to the lever being adjustably fixed in a slot 57 by means of a nut 58. The lever 56 is free to turn on a spindle 59 and has pivoted to it a pawl 60 engaging with a ratchet wheel 61 fixed by a nut 62 'to asleeve'6'3 free to turn oaths spindle 59. 64 is a spring box also free to turn on the spindle 59 and having fixedinside it the outer end of a coiled spring the inner end of'which is fixed to the sleeve 63.

65 is a lever fixed to the spring box 64and having fixed to it a pin 66 working in a sec ond slot 67 in the lever 56.

68 is a pawl pivoted on the lever 65 and 'engaging with a ratchet wheel 69 which forms part of a clock train. The'strength of the spring in the spring box 64 can be adjusted by loosening the nut 62 and then turning the sleeve 63 relatively to'the ratchet wheel 61.

The action of the apparatus is as follcws:WVhen the diaphragm 17 is descending, the arm 54 is turned'from right to left Fig. 6, and the lever 56 and ratchet wheel 61 V are turned by it in the same direction. If the clock is not fully wound the spring in the box 64 is sufficiently strong to cause the turning of the ratchet wheel 61 to carry the box 64 and lever 65 around with it thus turning the ratchet wheel 69 and winding up the clock but when the clock is fully wound the resistance of the ratchet wheel 69 is too 'greatto be overcome by the spring in'the box 64 and the box therefore remains stationary and the lever 56 simply oscillates to and fro without moving the lever 65 or further winding up the clock the slot 67 in which the pin 66 lies allowing of this movement. v

70 is the balance wheel of the clock and 71 is its spring barrel. The clock train is of ordinary construction and as it is clearly shown in the drawings itrequires no description. V

72 is a disk driven by the clock train and 1 5 making one revolution a day.

73 is a worm fixed to a spindle 74 turning in bearings 75 fixed to the disk 72 and 76 is a star wheel fixed to the spindle 74. As the 1 disk 72 revolves it carries the spindle 74 and wheel 76 with it and once in every revolution one'of the pins of the wheel 76 comes against astop 77 fixed to the frame of the apparatus so that the wheel 76 and worm 73 are given one seventh of a turn once a day and therefore a complete turn once a week. The worm 73 gears with a worm wheel 78 having fifty-two teeth so that the worm wheel revolves once a year. The worm wheel 78 has fixed to it a toothed wheel 79 gearing with two toothed wheels 80 turning in bearings on the disk 72. 81 are links connecting the wheels 80 to the two halves 82, 82 of a disk cam. It will be seen that the-arrangement is such that as the worm wheel 78 revolves the halves 82 are turned in opposite directions and the length therefor of the rise'of the cam is varied from day to day. r

83 (Fig. is a roller bearing on the cam 1 82 and carried by a counterbalanced lever 84 by which the gas valve 29 is operated. The cams 82 are so proportioned and set that the valve 29 is opened and gas supplied to the burner as near as may be at sunset and the valve is closed and gas is turned off as near as may be at sunrise. The pilot light supplied by the pipe 12 is always burning.

In cases where it is not desired to rotate the lantern the mechanism for winding the frame 85 and a collar 88 fixed to the rod 86.

The strength of the spring 87 can be adjusted by means of nuts 89. 90 is a pawl pivoted to the spindle 86 and gearing with the ratchet wheel 69.

The action is as follows :As the diaphragm 17 rises it carries the frame 85, spring 87, rod 86 and pawl 90 with it and winds up the clock but when the clock is fully WO'LlIlCl the resistance of the ratchet wheel 69 is too great to be overcome by the spring 87 and the rod 86 and pawl 90 then remain stationary and the upward movement of the frame 85 simply compresses the spring 87.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. The combination of a pressure reducing chamber to which high pressure gas is admitted, an impulse chamber receiving gas at a constant low pressure from the pressure reducing chamber and which impulse chamber is provided with a movable wall, inlet and outlet valves for the impulse chamber, connections between said valves and the movable wall whereby as the latter is vibrated the former are alternately opened and closed, a burner supplied with gas from the impulse chamber, a valve for turning on and shutting off the supply of gas to the burner, means for periodically operating said valve to open and close communicatlon between the impulse chamber and the burner,.a clock train for operating said valve-operating means, and connections between the movable wall of the impulse chamber and the clock train for winding the latter and keeping it always wound.

2. The combination with a pressure reducing chamber to which high pressure gas is admitted, an impulse chamber receiving gas at a constant low pressure from the pressure reducing chamber and which impulse chamber is provided with a movable wall, inlet and outlet valves for the impulse chamber, connections between said valves and the movable wall whereby as the latter is vibrated the former are alternately opened and closed, a burner supplied from the impulse chamber, a valve for turning on and shutting 011 the supply of gas to the burner, means for periodically operating said valve to open and close communication between the burner and the impulse chamber, a clock train for operating said valve-operating means, connections between the movable wall of the impulse chamber and the clock train for winding the latter, and devices for automatically varying the time of opening and closing the valve between the burner and the impulse chamber.

3. The combination of a pressure reducing chamber to which high pressure gas is admitted, an impulse chamber receiving gas at a constant low pressure from the pressure reducing chamber and which impulse chamber is provided with a movable wall, inlet and outlet valves for the impulse chamber, connections between said valves and the movable wall whereby as the latter is vibrated the former are alternately opened and closed, a burner supplied with gas from the impulse chamber, a lantern, connections between the movable wall and the lantern for operating the latter, a valve for turning on and shutting off the supply of gas to the burner, and mechanism operated by the movable wall of the impulse chamber for actuating said valve.

FREDERICK GEORGE ATTWOOD.

WVitnesses:

FREDERICK GEORGE AT'rWooD, Junn, HERBERT D. JAMnsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

